AIDAN CALLAGHAN WAS today crowned Triathon Ireland’s 2016 Middle Distance National Champion in Kenmare, Co Kerry.
The Letterkenny native came home first in the rainy and foggy conditions to take the victory for the event, called the ‘Lost Sheep Triathlon’, over a 1,900-metre swim, a treacherous 80km bike and then a 21km run.
[adrotate group=”38″]Callaghan, who represents the Letterkenny 24/7 Triathlon Club, was second out of the water behind Richie Nichols but on the cycling leg, where there are are two category 1 climbs – the Healy pass and Glengarriff – race favourite Brian McCrystal crashed out.
Callaghan was first off the bike – some two and a half minutes in front of Charles Malta – and then held on for victory. Nichols came second and Mariusz Olejniczak, a Polish national living in Kildare, who won ‘The Race’ in Gartan in March, was third.
Times to follow …
Here’s the end of Callaghan’s race, courtesy of Triathlon Ireland …
In July, Callaghan managed a top 20 finish at the Ironman UK in Bolton, where he finished in 20th place in a time of nine hours, 53 minutes and 58 seconds in his first ever attempt over the distance.
[adrotate group=”81″]In doing so, he obtained one of the 40 qualifying slots for the 2016 edition of the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, which takes place on Saturday, October 8. He will be joined by McCrystal, whose injuries today are not said to be serious.
Last year, Callaghan, a Co-ordinator with Lifford Youthreach Programme, won Triathlon Ireland’s Super Series Championship.
Tags:The 2016 Middle Distance Championships have begun, best of luck to all athletes 1900m swim/ 80km bike/ 21km run pic.twitter.com/YCZ6P8Q9qx
— Triathlon Ireland (@tri_ireland) September 3, 2016
